ABUJA – The political landscape has been rocked by fresh accusations from African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain Kenneth Okonkwo, who has not only reiterated his claim that President Bola Tinubu is a “certificate forger” but also accused his administration of attempting to impose a fraudulent tax law on the Nigerian populace.
Okonkwo, a lawyer and former Labour Party spokesperson, made the inflammatory statement: “It is a sad thing that the person that is sitting as Nigeria’s President is a certificate forger.” He argued that despite the Supreme Court ruling, the circumstances surrounding Tinubu’s Chicago State University records remain a blight on the nation’s international reputation.
The veteran actor has expanded his attack to include recent legislative activity, alleging the executive branch has perpetrated a “forgery of the highest order” with the 2026 Finance Act. Okonkwo points to findings from the House of Representatives Minority Caucus, which confirmed that the gazetted version of the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025, was materially altered after being passed by the National Assembly.
He highlighted specific discrepancies that he claims represent a systemic attempt to bypass the legislature:
- Expanded Executive Power: The removal of mandatory legislative oversight provisions.
- Arbitrary Seizure Powers: The inclusion of clauses granting tax authorities the right to seize and sell assets without a court order.
- Mandatory Appeal Deposits: The controversial introduction of a requirement forcing taxpayers to deposit 20% of a disputed tax amount before an appeal can be heard in the High Court.
Okonkwo argued that this pattern of alleged forgery, from academic certificates to national legislation, demonstrates a contempt for the rule of law and the constitutional process.
Furthermore, he has been a vocal critic of the administration’s handling of security, describing the President’s New Year message as “annoying” given the ongoing kidnappings in Kaduna and other states.
Okonkwo has vowed to help form a “formidable coalition” of opposition parties to challenge the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections.
